PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Wasim Kayani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel Paquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kayani's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Audioslave - Exploder. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kayani
vs
Paquiao

170 cm
30
167 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

190 cm
36
170 lbs
34 - 27 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wasim Kayani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 27 - 1, fighting out of London, Manuel Paquiao!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Ackerman and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kayani swings widly with a right hand

and Paquiao counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Paquiao.

Kayani throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Paquiao escapes and throws Kayani's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Kayani might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
You can see the frustration on Kayani's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kayani tries to improve position but can't.
Paquiao is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kayani is working hard here to advance position.
A lull in the action here as Paquiao stalls from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kayani tries to improve position but can't.
Kayani struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kayani is trying to get back to half guard.
Kayani gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Kayani tries to lock up and control but Paquiao gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kayani tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kayani tries to lock up and control but Paquiao gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Paquiao prevents Kayani from getting the reversal.
Kayani tries to lock up and control but Paquiao gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kayani is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paquiao avoids the attempt from Kayani to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paquiao controlling from mount.
Kayani is desperately trying to improve his position but Paquiao has a good base and remains in mount.
Paquiao can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kayani is looking to escape.
Kayani wants to control but Paquiao is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paquiao is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Kayani is looking to improve his position but Paquiao isn't that keen on the idea.
Kayani manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kayani is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kayani keeping hold of Paquiao's head, controlling as best he can.
Kayani trying to control from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Paquiao is controlling the pace.
Kayani is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kayani throws a poor cross that misses

and Paquiao counters with a single leg into guard. Kayani didn't expect that.
Kayani trying to keep a closed guard but Paquiao is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Paquiao dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kayani lands a leg kick that knocks Paquiao off balance momentarily.
Kayani misses with a wild combination.
Kayani throws a sloppy body shot

and Paquiao counters with a takedown into side control.
Paquiao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kayani is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Paquiao off and has taken his back!
Kayani lands a shot to the body.
Kayani throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kayani throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Kayani lands a shot to the head.
Kayani lands with a hammerfist to the side of Paquiao's head.
Paquiao is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kayani's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Paquiao covering up well and avoiding damage.
Paquiao is trying to break free.
Kayani lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Paquiao trying to get back to his feet but Kayani is in full control for now.
Kayani loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Paquiao hold on?

Paquiao fending off the submission attempt from Kayani.
Paquiao is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Kayani off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Kayani working for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kayani throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Kayani controls the action.
Kayani loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Paquiao hold on?
Paquiao covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Kayani struggling to land strikes to the head as Paquiao covers up.

Kayani is looking for the choke from the back position but Paquiao is controlling his hands well.
Kayani biding his time, controlling Paquiao.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paquiao grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Paquiao tries to escape but Kayani has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Paquiao covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Kayani has the hooks in. Paquiao is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Paquiao breaks Kayani's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kayani pulls Paquiao in close to prevent any damage.

Kayani working for a triangle but Paquiao defends it easily.
Kayani trying to control the position here.
Paquiao must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kayani working a defensive guard here.
Kayani looking for a sweep. Not yet Kayani, not yet.
Kayani keeping moving, preventing Paquiao from controlling successfully.
Kayani wants to control but Paquiao passes easily into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wasim Kayani dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kayani misses with a low kick.

Kayani has managed to clinch.
Kayani taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Paquiao tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kayani lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kayani blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kayani lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kayani.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kayani.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paquiao fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Kayani.
Kayani throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Paquiaos head.
Kayani is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Paquiao throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kayani blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kayani slowing the pace effectively.
Kayani lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Paquiao.
Paquiao misses with the head strike.
Kayani is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Paquiao misses with a hook from the clinch.
Paquiao's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Paquiao misses with a hook from the clinch.
Paquiao struggles to land a body shot inside as Kayani controls his hands.
Paquiao misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kayani slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kayani makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kayani pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kayani goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Paquiao makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Paquiao lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Paquiao has a couple of punches blocked by Kayani.
Paquiao misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Kayani fails to land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paquiao swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kayani can't break the clinch.
Kayani lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Paquiao backwards.
Kayani trying to stall but Paquiao improves his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kayani changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Paquiao fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Paquiao thows a left - swing and a miss!
Paquiao misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kayani.
Paquiao throws an overhand right that lands on Kayani's shoulder, as Kayani tries to avoid the shot.
Kayani works the jab nicely.
Kayani throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A cross from Paquiao lands.
Kayani throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Paquiao stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kayani cracks the inside of Paquiao's front leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kayani takes one to the chin there.
Kayani throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Paquiao sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kayani rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Paquiao counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Paquiao got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kayani has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Paquiao has managed to get both his arms back between Kayani's legs - danger averted.
Kayani has a closed guard, preventing Paquiao from standing up.
Paquiao wants to pass the guard but Kayani is keeping the position.
Kayani bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Paquiao's guard.

Kayani trying to control but Paquiao is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Wasim Kayani.
I think Kayani has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wasim Kayani!
A very excited looking Wasim Kayani made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.